Bahamadia rose to prominence on the hip-hop scene as an artist/lyricist/producer signed to Guru of Gang Starr’s Ill Kid Records. She went on to lend her smooth-flowing raps to a variety of projects during the late ’90s, including several electronica and acid jazz artists. Born Antonia Reed in Philadelphia, Bahamadia started out DJing at local house parties in the early to mid-’80s, and soon stepped out front to honing her skills on the mic as well. She remained a presence on the Philly hip-hop scene, but didn’t make her first recordings until hooking up with producer/radio personality DJ Ran, who helmed her independent 1993 single “Funk Vibe.” “Funk Vibe” caught the attention of Gang Starr’s MC Guru, who took an interest in Bahamadia’s career and helped her get a record deal with Chrysalis. Her first officially released singles, 1994’s “Total Wreck” and 1995’s “Uknowhowwedo,” were well-received in the underground for their soulful soundscapes and laid-back raps. The full-length LP Kollage followed in 1996, and featured production by DJ Premier, Ski-Beats ,N.O.Joe, The Beat Miners, as well as fellow Philly natives The Roots. Unfortunately, Chrysalis folded a year later, and Bahamadia chose to wait out her contract before resuming her career as a solo, independent artist. In 2000, she signed with the L.A.-based indie Goodvibe and released the chilled-out BB QUEEN (as in “beautiful black”) project featuring production and/or guest appearances by James “J-Dilla” Yancey, DJ Revolution, Cali Agents (Rasco & Planet Asia), Dwele, etc… which received excellent reviews.